“Sex is an important part of a romantic relationship for many older adults and it’s also important to quality of life,” says Dr. Erica Solway of the University of Michigan, who lead the poll. “We recognize this is an important topic that relates to their well-being and something that doesn’t get the attention that it deserves.”

“No one wants to think of their grandmother who bakes them cookies having or wanting sex. It just seems ‘wrong’ as society embraces youth, but we all have needs regardless of age,” she told Global News in 2017.

Talking about sex

Health also plays an important role in this, Solway adds. Not only does a healthy sex life mean an overall healthy life, she adds the poll also found some participants (17 per cent) were not comfortable telling anyone about sexual health problems — the poll found 62 per cent were likely to tell their health care providers.

And as more research into this topic continues to be conducted, Solway says it should give more insight as to how people over 65 stay sexually active and intimate. She says one of the biggest takeaways from this poll is how women, in particular, were staying sexually active.

women in our poll were less likely to report being sexually active, but they were more likely than men to report being satisfied with their sex life. Some people may define sexual activity different and it’s possible that partners are finding other ways to maintain intimacy and connection in their relationship.”